CORE Group Releases New Document-
The Expansion of Community-Based Tuberculosis Programming: Critical Program Design Issues for New Partners
In response to increasing burden of TB on the developing world and the call for NGO involvement in combating the problem, CORE Group's TB working group has released The Expansion of Community-Based Tuberculosis Programming: Critical Program Design Issues for New Partners.

The publication, which outlines nine project design challenges most likely to face those working at the community level and seeking to implement a TB prevention or treatment program, grew out of a 2007 TB working group event, Lessons Learned Exchange: TB Programming from the Community-based Perspective. It reflects participant discussions and lessons learned that were articulated throughout the event and can be used to inform community-based program design or assess community-based efforts.

Each of the challenges described in the document will be addressed during a series of online meetings, hosted by CORE Group's TB Working Group. All interested, including TB implementers, advocates, and scholars are welcome to attend. More details on the online meetings to follow.

CORE Group Welcomes Alison Hill as New Malaria Coordinator
CORE Group welcomes Alison Hill as CORE Group's new Malaria Coordinator. Alison has her MPH in Infectious Diseases from JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds an MBA as well, and is an alumni of Henry Mosley's training on Strategic Leadership for Health Systems Transformation. Alison has worked on HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria community-based programs, internationally and within the U.S. She has worked clinically with out-patient services, in-patient hospice and home-based care programs for person living with HIV/AIDS. She served as the Director of a Hospice in Zambia, managing 40 employees and 60 community volunteers, leading the design and implementation of facility and community outreach programs.

CORE Group HIV/AIDS Working Group to Present SOTA on Pediatric HIV Care in April
The CORE Group's HIV/AIDS Working Group will be holding a one day state-of-the-art (SOTA) update on pediatric HIV care on April 4th in Washington DC. Key topics include: essential care for HIV-exposed and infected infants; missed opportunities for identifying children and for providing care; models for delivering family centered care approaches; promising approaches to early infant diagnosis; HIV testing in children; nutrition and pediatric AIDS; age specific needs and considerations for HIV care and treatment.

Information on workshop logistics and registration

Spring Meeting Registration Reminder
CORE Group Spring Meeting to Focus on Implementation Research
The CORE Group will hold its annual Spring Meeting April 14-18, 2008 in Atlanta. The conference, Child Survival Investigation: CSI-Atlanta will allow CORE members and partners to gather and discuss the following research themes: using research to improve programs or policy; developing guidance for building research capacity in-house or through partnerships; and the implications for using findings for programming. Several concurrent sessions on a variety of technical issues in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health will also be held. Registration is now open on the CORE Group website.

Draft Agenda & Registration

CORE Group Elluminate Archive Available Online
If you missed the presentation in January by Jim Ricca of CSTS+ on the Rapid Health Facility Assessment (R-HFA, version 2.1) tool, a recording of the session is now available at in CORE's Elluminate Archive.

The R-HFA was originally designed for use by NGOs within the CSHGP to assess quality of MNCH service delivery and to strengthen relations with District Health Medical Teams. Key areas of information the tool is designed to collect include: availability of a minimal level of infrastructure, supplies, and medications; adherence to national (based on IMCI) protocols for assessment, classification, and management of children under five; and caretaker knowledge of how to administer drugs received for common childhood illnesses (i.e., diarrhea, malaria, and/or pneumonia).

CORE Group Members Submit Testimony in Support of Child Survival Act
The Global Child Survival Act (S.1418) was unanimously passed out of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday, February 13. The bill must now move to the floor of the Senate for a full vote. Thank-you to the CORE Group members who submitted testimony in support of the act.

Publications of Interest
Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers is now available in Spanish. The Spanish title is "Planificación Familiar: Un manual mundial para proveedores." Available online: www.fphandbook.org

Review of Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in Post Emergency Context: Synthesis of Lessons on Integration of CMAM into National Health Systems
With Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) incorporated into government health facilities and protocols to varying degrees in Ethiopia, Malawi and Niger, USAID's FANTA Project, managed by AED, undertook a comprehensive review of the challenges, successes and lessons learned from the experience in these three countries. Review Of Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in the Post-Emergency Context: Synthesis of Lessons on Integration of CMAM into National Health Systems discusses recommendations for successful and sustainable integration of CMAM, outlining specific steps donors, Ministries of Health, the UN and NGOs can take to facilitate the process and next steps needed to expand the knowledge and evidence base for CMAM integration.

CMAM Report

**Special Notice: CORE Group Has New Address**
666 11th St, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202.380.3400

Share your materials with NGOs around the world: CORE's Child Health and Development Database houses more than 400 NGO tools, documents and materials in child health and development. Materials submission instructions are available in English, French and Spanish. Please visit www.coregroup.org/database/.

The CORE Group, a membership association of 47 international nongovernmental organizations, promotes and improves the health and well being of children and women in developing countries through collaborative NGO action and learning. Visit us at www.coregroup.org. To subscribe to the CORE Group's monthly e-newsletter, send an e-mail to: e-update@coregroup.org. For inquiries, contact the CORE Group at: contact@coregroup.org.